Bayern started strongly and would go close in the seventh minute when Rafinha’s cross from the right was deflected into the side-netting, and from Joshua Kimmich’s corner David Alaba saw his header saved.

The pressure paid off in the 18th minute when Ribery drove down the wing and picked out Bernat, who slotted home with confidence with the outside of his boot.

It was nearly 2-0 in the 26th minute but Michael Esser pulled off a brilliant save when Thomas Muller got on the end of Bernat’s cross, to head an effort on target that the keeper clawed away.

The Bavarians maintained momentum without really penetrating and it went in at the break 1-0 to the hosts. After the interval, it was more of the same as Lewandowski was put through on goal by Muller, but he tried to find Kimmich for a tap-in and Darmstadt managed to clear.

However, Schipplock thought he’d found an equaliser in the 65th minute when he finished smartly through Tony Starke’s legs, only to see his effort ruled out for offside. Three minutes later Lewandowski’s header was saved superbly by Esser from Xabi Alonso’s corner.

Darmstadt were offering no threat as Bayern completely commanded possession in what was a sluggish second period in Munich. Out of nowhere, Bernat brought down Schipplock in the box although former Bayern star Altintop, saw his penalty saved by Starke in the 86th minute.

There were few further scares as Bayern took their foot off the gas and saw out the remaining few minutes with relative ease, though Ribery did hit the post late on.